In this page:

• Why was the practice needed?
• How was it implemented?
• Outputs
• Key success factors
• Technical information
• Contacts

Why was the practice needed?

The Inter-institutional working group on discrimination monitoring was initiated in 2007 as part of an EU-funded project aimed at improving data collection on discrimination related issues. In this context, the system was designed to enhance joint understanding of the need for equality data, to identify national data gaps in a coordinated way and to find synergies with the work of other stakeholders. This includes ministries, ombudsmen, research institutes, human rights organisations and social partners.

As a result of this project, the first national mapping of structures for the collection of equality data was implemented, with recommendations for future development. In the first years, the cooperation structure functioned as a very wide, cross-sectored group with 30-35 representatives. Gradually some members became less active, and the structure was re-organised in order to keep it dynamic and effective.

Currently, there is a smaller task force (12 members) to support the secretariat with the day-to-day activities of the monitoring system. Additionally, an annual expert forum is organised to bring together all other interested actors to exchange information on data collection projects and to discuss the collection of equality data nationally.

How was it implemented?

The Inter-institutional working group consists of three elements:

1. a small secretariat at the Ministry of Justice, which is the coordinating national authority for the system;
2. an executive task force, which is assigned to develop discrimination monitoring nationally;
3. different kinds of consultation meetings with other key stakeholders, e.g. an annual forum on the collection and use of equality data.

The main activities are task force meetings (4-6 annually) and the annual expert forum covering issues related to ongoing data collection projects, data gaps and strategies to overcome these.

Secondary activities include communication on equality data, expert consultations and joint initiatives and research projects. For example, the expert group planned a joint research project with the National Institute for Health and Welfare and with the Ministry for Employment and Economy on the integration of certain immigrant groups. A set of questions on discrimination experiences was also included in a survey based on expert input from the group.

Outputs

• An annual survey is carried out based on the discussions within the task force on existing data gaps and how to improve the situation concerning the collection and use of equality data. The discrimination grounds under review are those that are listed in national anti-discrimination legislation. These are: age; origin; nationality; language; religion; belief; opinion; political activity; trade union activity; family circumstances; health; disability; sexual orientation or other personal characteristics.
• Examples of annual surveys can be found on the website discriminationdata.fi.

Key success factors

• It is important to ensure that participating stakeholders receive enough feedback and tangible benefits from their contributions to keep them actively involved. This can be in the form of networking, information or good practices.

Technical information

• Data sources covered: Administrative data; Household or individual surveys; Victimisation surveys; Attitudinal surveys; Complaints data; Discrimination testing; Qualitative research.
• Areas of life covered: Employment; Education; Health; Social Protection; Housing and living conditions; Access to good and services; Hate crime.
• Target audience: Public authorities at all levels, NGOs representing vulnerable minorities, media, policy makers
• Duration: Since 2007 – ongoing
• Geographical scope: National
• Leading institution: Ministry of Justice, Finland
• Other organisations involved/consulted: Non-discrimination Ombudsman; National Human Rights Institute; Finnish League for Human Rights; Finnish Disability Forum; Advisory Board for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; National Institute for Welfare and Health; Migration Institute of Finland; University of Helsinki; SámiSoster (NGO); Finnish Youth Research Society. Other organisations consulted: Research and Analytic department of the Government of Finland, relevant ministries, NGOs representing groups vulnerable for discrimination.
• Financial & human resources: Budget: €50,000 / year; Source of the budget: national budget; Staff: 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Contacts

Ministry of Justice, Finland/ Oikeusministeriö

Email: Yhdenvertaisuus (dot) om (at) om (dot) fi